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You want to get ahead? Maybe with a career in Germany? Our international master's program in Analytical Instruments, Measurement and Sensor Technology (AIMS) offers such an opportunity. With our program you will not only get the relevant theoretical knowledge, but also important soft skills as well as international experience.

The core of our program is sensor technology as a key technology in nearly every field of engineering. Automotive industry as well as telecommunication or processing industries are using sensors for their products. But you will also get acquainted with data analysis, computer simulation and other measurement and analyzing techniques. Companies are searching for qualified employees in this field and they gladly hire our alumni. We keep permanent contact to the companies to ensure that our program is updated always with the latest developments.

We can offer the specialties of two universities to you: Coburg University as a specialist in sensor technology with its Institute of Sensor and Actuator Technology and the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST) as a well-established and full-fledged multidisciplinary university with the College of Optical, Electrical and Computer Engineering.

All of the courses are taught in the English language. German or Chinese language proficiency is not required. However, to be able to start your career, German and Chinese language courses are integrated in the curriculum.

Structure of the Program

Our full time study program is two years (four semesters). The first two semesters are theoretical coursework at both universities: Summer semester takes place in Shanghai and winter semester takes place in Coburg.

In the third semester of the program, you will do a three-month internship: International students complete their internships at companies in Germany, German students in China.

In your fourth semester, students prepare their master’s thesis either in a company, a research institute or a research laboratory.

Additional short summer schools focus on innovative developments in technology and applications in industry with lectures from experts from universities as well as from industry. The venue will be selected on the occasion. Locations to be considered may be Nuremberg in connection with the sensor fair, Shanghai or another international hub.

Curriculum & Examination Regulations

We do not only give you the theoretical background in lectures and seminars but we also show you how to apply these methods and technologies within different practical projects and you can put hands on in our practical labs.

You will learn principles and applications in the fields of measurement devices and procedures such as sensor technology, computer based measurement technology, analytic instruments, nanometrology, optoelectronic sensors and digital signal processing. To get along in Germany language training and intercultural soft skills are integrated in the program. Laboratory exercises, projects and computer assisted lectures provide additional support for effective learning.

When you successfully completed the study program including the master’s thesis at the end of the fourth semester, we will award the degree “Master of Engineering (M. Eng.)”

Units in Coburg

Computer Based Measurement Technology provides the students with the skill to analyze demanding tasks in the field of computer based measurement and test technology, to design concepts for their solutions and to implement them in a timely and cost efficient manner using contemporary software tools. Furthermore, the students learn the basics of computer-based data acquisition, networking, measured data evaluation and processing. The course covers important concepts of instrument interfaces, VISA (virtual instrument software architecture) and data recording using DAQ boards.

Sensor technology describes the workings of passive and active sensors, oscillators, propagation paths as sensors and micro and nanoscale sensors. It also focuses on different sensor principles, their applications as well as limitations. The current trends in sensor technology and the ability to integrate different sensors into a measurement system are also covered in the course.

Mathematical Data Analysis provides the mathematical basis to analyze measurement output. It focuses on detailed knowledge of mathematical approaches of data analysis of time series measurements. Furthermore, understanding of mathematical foundations of systems modelling is given.

Units in Shanghai

Photoelectric Detection explains the principles, characteristic properties, structures and applications of semiconductor optoelectronic devices for detection of optical radiation. Particular emphasize is put on the construction of different devices and their specific use in the fields of detection and fiber-optic communication.

Digital Signal Processing equips students with tools that enable them to design and analyze most digital signal processing systems. The components of digital signal processing systems considered here are used to process signals which are discrete in time and in amplitude. Examples: Discrete Fourier transforms, digital filters and multirate systems.

Language Courses

Students of this program are required to take foreign language courses as part of the curriculum in their first and second semesters. Depending on the students’ previous knowledge, various levels are offered.

Moreover, courses in the Chinese language are offered at the Coburg University for all international students.

Admission Requirements

You need to have

a bachelor’s degree (or higher) in the field of engineering or natural sciences with good results (2,5 or higher in the German grading scale, 3.0 or higher in the 4 point GPA grading scale, or equivalent).

English proficiency proven by a relevant mark in one of the following tests: UNIcert® II, TOEFL 550, CBTOEFL 213, IELTS 6.0. Or you can prove equivalent knowledge e.g. by a bachelor entirely teached in the English language.

Professional practical experience of at least one year (exceptions are possible in special cases, but students must fulfil this requirement before graduating from the master’s program. In this case they will have to submit a written description of how they plan to meet this requirement).

Our Service and Fees

International students will get a special service at our university. We offer a pickup service from the train station, we organize a room in the dormitories at our campus, you'll get help to deal with German authorities like Coburg registration office or health insurance. We help to open your bank account as well as finding places to buy food. Or you need an appointment for a doctor? You need to sign a German contract for internship? You need help to prepare applications? We are also here to help you with that.

Therefore our tuition fees are 3,500 EUR per semester plus students service fee of about 100 Euros at the moment. The service fee includes a semester ticket (all buses in Coburg and also trains e.g. to Bamberg). Exchange students from our partner university USST in Shanghai will be charged a reduced tuition fee of 2,000 EUR per semester plus service fee, because they also pay at USST.

Application

Kindly complete the online application, upload all required documents and send it to us online.

Required documents are:

scanned copies of all of your diplomas

scanned copy of transcripts of grades

TOEFL/IELTS or UNIcert® (for English language) scores

scanned copy of passport

Please note: During enrollment procedure you will have to present the originals.

We will inform you via email, if you are eligible for our program. If you are eligible, one of our professors will invite you for a telephone or skype interview to see if we can understand each other on a professional level.

The deadline for applications for winter semester is August 31st for German students and June 30th for foreign students (because the visa application process needs more time). Students from India (especially Mumbai) should apply for an appointment at the German Embassy latest in May. Visa procedure will need a lot of time.

Partner University

USST Shanghai

USST

We offer our Master of Engineering program in cooperation with University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST), China. USST is a well-established and full-fledged multidisciplinary university committed to training competent professionals in the fields of Engineering, Management, Commerce, Arts, Sciences and Medicine.

College of Optical, Electronical and Computer Engineering

The responsible college for the Master in Engineering is College of Optical and Electric Information Engineering. It has six research institutes and one academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, six Ph.D. advisors, 40 professors and associate professors. It provides seven master’s programs in the fields of Measuring Technology and Instrumentation, Precision Instrumentation, Optical Engineering, Testing Technology and Automation, Control Theory and Engineering, Mode Identifying Technology as well as Signal and Information Process.

Additional information about USST and College of Optical and Electric Information Engineering can be found on this website: www.usst.edu.cn

Job Perspectives

Our alumni work in different countries and in various fields. Part of the graduates stay in Germany, others go back to their home countries and start to work in a local international company. Some particularly qualified graduates join a PhD program after finishing AIMS. At the moment, there are alumni working in Bosch, Continental, Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik, Texas Instruments, Hewlett Packard, VW, Audi, Roche, Philips, Hella Schaeffler, Evonik...

Unlike at larger universities throughout the world, you will not need binoculars in order to see your professor at Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Here, we offer you a first-class education with personal service. When you are moving to study in a different country, there are many things to consider. No need to worry, though! We will guide you through the most important steps in organizing your time at Coburg University: Our support for international students